With his strength capable of such explosive growth in a short period, Zhong Ming naturally wasn’t too worried about the True Inheritance disciples from the Major Sects trying to stall for time.

And this improvement was only one part of it.

Another ability Zhong Ming felt had the potential for rapid short-term improvement was the Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer.

This Sword Dao Secret Manual was a fusion of Zhong Ming’s many Longxi Lineage Cultivation Techniques. The core of its Fourth Realm was primarily focused on honing one’s Mental Realm.

He had comprehended the "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme" Sword Heart, used it to defeat a True Inheritance disciple from a Major Sect, and suppressed all the prodigies of the Qinghe Commandery Mansion until none dared to utter a word. As a result, his Mental Realm had become exceptionally brilliant.

This was reflected on his status panel, where the progress of his Cultivation Technique had increased by fifty to sixty thousand in an extremely short period.

’The Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer’s current progress is 63,368 out of 129,600. Fifty to sixty thousand of that is all thanks to this brilliant Sword Heart.’

Zhong Ming sensed something more. To elevate his Mental Realm, he didn’t need any fancy methods. All he had to do was fight and win. With every victory, his "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme" Sword Heart would grow more brilliant and dazzling, and his domineering Sword Intent would become more solid, more eternal.

’I think I understand now why so many Sword Cultivators test their peers with the sword and challenge the Thousand Mountains when they leave their sects to gain experience.’

’For a Sword Cultivator, this is indeed the fastest and most direct path.’

’Of course, it’s also the most dangerous.’

The so-called danger wasn’t just about making enemies and getting killed. It was about encountering an unbeatable foe and having one’s Sword Heart shattered in defeat...

’But high risks often come with high rewards.’

’Just look at what’s happening now. I single-handedly suppressed the Qinghe Commandery Mansion, leaving them too afraid to accept my challenge. My Sword Heart’s progress instantly shot up by fifty to sixty thousand.’

’Furthermore, their silence is causing some intangible, indescribable things—along with the very fortune of the Qinghe Commandery Mansion—to flow endlessly toward me... At this rate, my Cultivation Technique’s progress will continue to increase even if I just sit here and do nothing.’

[Hint: You have suppressed the Qinghe Commandery Mansion with a single sword strike. The crowd’s reverence for you has increased. Your Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme Dominating Thought has been enhanced. Progress for Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer +1,380.]

[You have suppressed the Qinghe Commandery Mansion with a single sword strike...]

The ceaseless notifications didn’t make Zhong Ming ecstatic.

He knew full well that the amount of fortune he could gather from the Qinghe Commandery Mansion and the Dominating Thought he could nurture from it were both finite.

If he wanted to walk this path of invincibility, he couldn’t stay in the Qinghe Commandery Mansion forever. Eventually, he would have to venture out into the wider world to fight and conquer other prodigies.

This path was endless. After conquering the State Mansion, the Immortal Dynasty awaited. After crushing the Immortal Dynasty, there would be even greater ones, as well as the Demon Race, the Sea Territory, the Demon Sect...

’This path is too perilous. A single expert is forged upon a mountain of a billion corpses and an endless sea of blood—but that fits the Dao Rhyme of ’Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme.’’

’This path is narrow, with room for only one. All others in the world are my enemies.’

Zhong Ming wouldn’t actively seek out this path, but he wouldn’t reject it either. This was consistent with his Mental Realm: a conviction that while he would one day be invincible, for now, he was still lacking.

Therefore, he wouldn’t go looking for trouble, but he wouldn’t shy away from it either.

And because Zhong Ming was passively receiving all this, his "Heaven and Earth, Only I am Supreme" Dominating Thought continued to grow, and the progress of his Longxi Sword Dao: Mirror Heart Demon Slayer climbed even faster.

’Stalling? Heh. If that’s what you want, then go right ahead. We’ll see who time favors in the end!’

"Hooo..."

No one dared step forward to challenge him, and no one dared rashly disturb him. This allowed Zhong Ming to close his eyes. Within the Great Dream of Thousand Years, he continued to deduce the acupoints in the muscles and bones as described in *Star Heaven: Divine Monarch*. He sought to find all 108 of them and figure out how to stimulate them, how to open them easily without harming his own body.

Meanwhile, as he slept, the uproar from him instantly killing Lin Kong with a single look and the other prodigies’ refusal to fight him continued to grow and spread. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

News of this uproar eventually reached the ears of some truly powerful figures within the Qinghe Commandery Mansion, taking them by surprise.

Take Prince Qinghe, for example. He was in the middle of handling official business.

He had originally put Zhong Ming forward as a pawn, a piece to stir up the situation and divert the attention of the various factions. He had never expected him to win. This wasn’t because he had any prejudice against Zhong Ming or harbored any ill will.

Rather, in his view, Zhong Ming was certain to lose against so many True Inheritance disciples from Major Sects.

Holding no such hope, he naturally hadn’t paid much attention to the battle.

It was in the midst of this that an old steward hurried into the hall. With a grave expression, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, there has been a major development at Crescent Lake... Zhong Ming... he won!"

"Hm?"

"Hm?!"